Like many children of the 80s, I have a soft spot for the 1985 adventure epic Ladyhawke. It’s directed by the great Richard Donner, with it coming just before The Goonies and Lethal Weapon, but after his time with the Superman franchise. Lavishly produced, it wasn’t a hit in 1985 despite having a top-notch cast that included the late Rutger Hauer (in a rare heroic role), Michelle Pfeiffer, and Matthew Broderick. While some might say the latter was rather improbably cast as an Italian thief in the Middle Ages, that’s not actually the weirdest thing about the movie.
Donner has a reputation for always choosing superb composers for his films. Just think about how iconic Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton’s work is for Lethal Weapon, John Williams’s Superman theme, Jerry Goldsmith’s work on The Omen, and Dave Grusin’s score for The Goonies. Yet, one score...
Donner has a reputation for always choosing superb composers for his films. Just think about how iconic Michael Kamen and Eric Clapton’s work is for Lethal Weapon, John Williams’s Superman theme, Jerry Goldsmith’s work on The Omen, and Dave Grusin’s score for The Goonies. Yet, one score...
- 5/16/2024
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
David Sanborn, the six time Grammy-winning alto saxophonist who played at Woodstock, composed music for the Lethal Weapon movies, played in the SNL and Late Night with David Letterman bands and worked with everyone from Stevie Wonder to David Bowie, died Sunday afternoon, May 12th, after an extended battle with prostate cancer with complications. He Was 78.
Sanborn’s music is often described “smooth jazz,” but he reportedly rejected that characterization, and one can see why. His lively, iconic sax solo on Bowie’s “Young Americans” is anything but. Sanborn preferred the idea that he “put the saxophone back into rock ’n’ roll.”
Indeed, he worked with a virtual who’s who of rock and R&b legends, including James Brown, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Elton John, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, the Eagles,...
Sanborn’s music is often described “smooth jazz,” but he reportedly rejected that characterization, and one can see why. His lively, iconic sax solo on Bowie’s “Young Americans” is anything but. Sanborn preferred the idea that he “put the saxophone back into rock ’n’ roll.”
Indeed, he worked with a virtual who’s who of rock and R&b legends, including James Brown, Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Elton John, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, the Eagles,...
- 5/13/2024
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
In deciding on our next Wtf celebrity to cover, we passed around several names but in the end we all decided that: There could be only One! Despite being basically blind, Christopher Lambert made a name for himself as the king of Sci-Fi action films. One could say he single-handedly kept Blockbuster Video in business as most of his output in the 90’s debuted on the bottom shelves of the video rental chain. But few performers have made their mark on the international stage like Christopher Lambert, alternating between North American schlock and more prestigious French fare. Despite most of us knowing Lambert mainly for two iconic roles, there is much more to know about this American-born French actor; it’s time we find out just Wtf Happened to Christopher Lambert.
Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
But as always, we must begin at the beginning, and...
Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes
But as always, we must begin at the beginning, and...
- 5/1/2024
- by Brad Hamerly
- JoBlo.com
Expect the unexpected. Take it outside. Buy the vinyl. That’s right, updated version of the Road House soundtrack is getting the vinyl treatment from Mondo, complete with tracks that have never been heard before. Dubbed Road House: The Lost Album, the double vinyl will feature 12 songs from the beloved movie, along with seven tracks from The Jeff Healey Band’s original recording sessions.
As per the official release, “While the Road House film contained a dozen performances by Jeff Healey and his band, the official soundtrack released back in 1989 contained only four of those songs. In the thirty-four years since Jeff Healey recorded these songs, this is the first time they have all been made available. And, as a cool bonus, we’ve included seven songs that were recorded in these same sessions for consideration, but never made it into the film. These extra recordings unheard for almost thirty-five years,...
As per the official release, “While the Road House film contained a dozen performances by Jeff Healey and his band, the official soundtrack released back in 1989 contained only four of those songs. In the thirty-four years since Jeff Healey recorded these songs, this is the first time they have all been made available. And, as a cool bonus, we’ve included seven songs that were recorded in these same sessions for consideration, but never made it into the film. These extra recordings unheard for almost thirty-five years,...
- 3/19/2024
- by Mathew Plale
- JoBlo.com
Wolfgang Van Halen and the Van Halen family have made a $100,000 donation to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to benefit music programs in schools. The financial contribution kickstarts the nonprofit’s “Adopt a School” campaign.
The donation will be spread across 100 schools across the country, with each school receiving $1,000 toward its music program.
“Music has been a huge part of my life, and it is our family’s great pleasure to help support music education programs and bring the gift of music to students across the country,” said Wolfgang. “Music education has proven to be a huge contributor toward a student’s success in school and in life.”
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation CEO Tricia Williams added, “Our mission is to make sure there is an instrument in the hands of every student who needs and wants one. By increasing schools’ inventories of quality, playable instruments, music teachers will...
The donation will be spread across 100 schools across the country, with each school receiving $1,000 toward its music program.
“Music has been a huge part of my life, and it is our family’s great pleasure to help support music education programs and bring the gift of music to students across the country,” said Wolfgang. “Music education has proven to be a huge contributor toward a student’s success in school and in life.”
Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation CEO Tricia Williams added, “Our mission is to make sure there is an instrument in the hands of every student who needs and wants one. By increasing schools’ inventories of quality, playable instruments, music teachers will...
- 3/7/2024
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
One of the more iconic elements of “Highlander,” the high-concept fantasy adventure from 1986 that went on to spawn a long-running franchise, is the movie’s songs, written and performed by Queen. And Chad Stahelski, who will be directing the remake for Lionsgate, says that those songs will return for the new movie.
“Yes,” Stahelski told TheWrap while talking about the Oscar chances for “John Wick: Chapter 4.” “Probably in a different way than you think, but hardcore yes.”
Queen wrote and recorded songs for the original “Highlander” and released an album, “A Kind of Magic,” in 1986 that served as an official soundtrack to the movie.
The songs were perfect for the movie, which depicted a battle between immortal beings known as Highlanders in modern day Manhattan. Instead of Scottish moors, they battle in underground parking garages. That kind of thing. Queen’s songs were wedged in among Michael Kamen’s...
“Yes,” Stahelski told TheWrap while talking about the Oscar chances for “John Wick: Chapter 4.” “Probably in a different way than you think, but hardcore yes.”
Queen wrote and recorded songs for the original “Highlander” and released an album, “A Kind of Magic,” in 1986 that served as an official soundtrack to the movie.
The songs were perfect for the movie, which depicted a battle between immortal beings known as Highlanders in modern day Manhattan. Instead of Scottish moors, they battle in underground parking garages. That kind of thing. Queen’s songs were wedged in among Michael Kamen’s...
- 10/31/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Composer Mark Snow started his professional music writing career in 1976 with the release of the notorious TV movie "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble," starring a young John Travolta. Paul Williams wrote the theme song for the movie, but it was Snow who composed the incidental music. He was about 29 years old.
Since then, Snow has been a regular presence in the TV world, having written for shows like "Starsky & Hutch," "The Next Step Beyond," "Vega$," "The Love Boat," "Dynasty," "T.J. Hooker," "Pee-wee's Playhouse," and "Dark Justice." Snow's popularity exploded in the popular consciousness in 1993, however, with the debut of Chris Carter's paranormal investigation show "The X-Files."
"The X-Files" was about a pair of FBI agents who operated out of a basement and were given the weird, ghostly, monster-y, alien-related cases no one wanted. Mulder (David Duchovny) was a believer, Scully (Gillian Anderson) was a skeptic. Snow, who...
Since then, Snow has been a regular presence in the TV world, having written for shows like "Starsky & Hutch," "The Next Step Beyond," "Vega$," "The Love Boat," "Dynasty," "T.J. Hooker," "Pee-wee's Playhouse," and "Dark Justice." Snow's popularity exploded in the popular consciousness in 1993, however, with the debut of Chris Carter's paranormal investigation show "The X-Files."
"The X-Files" was about a pair of FBI agents who operated out of a basement and were given the weird, ghostly, monster-y, alien-related cases no one wanted. Mulder (David Duchovny) was a believer, Scully (Gillian Anderson) was a skeptic. Snow, who...
- 7/29/2023
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
All was not well with Sylvester Stallone’s career in the summer of 1995. Judge Dredd had come out, and, despite blockbuster business overseas, the film flopped in the all-important North American market. It would kick off a dry spell in Sly’s career, with many of his follow-up movies also doing poorly, to the point that in the early 2000s, he was stuck doing low-rent movies that went direct to video, such as Shade and Avenging Angelo. Of course, a major comeback for the Italian Stallion was just around the corner. Still, in this episode of Stallone Revisited, we look back at his follow-up to Judge Dredd, Assassins, which, on paper, should have been one of Sly’s classics but has gone on to become something of an obscure, underrated outing on his CV.
In the 1990s, spec scripts were all the rage. For those who don’t know, a...
In the 1990s, spec scripts were all the rage. For those who don’t know, a...
- 6/18/2023
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Bob Rice, who teamed with Journey to release a groundbreaking rock music video game and represented top-notch composers like Steve Ouimette, Sascha Dikiciyan and Inon Zur in the industry, has died. He was 79.
Rice died Wednesday night of Copd at an assisted living facility in Santa Clara, California, publicist Greg O’Connor-Read told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rice created and executive produced what was perhaps the first rock video game, “Journey Escape.” Released by Data Age in 1982 for the Atari 2600 console and narrated by Casey Kasem, it featured band members Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith as primitive digitized avatars.
Gamers were tasked in the instructions with guiding each musician “past hordes of Love-Crazed Groupies, Sneaky Photographers and Shifty-eyed Promoters to the safety of the Journey Escape Vehicle in time to make the next concert. Your mighty manager and loyal roadies are there to help, but the escape is up to you!
Rice died Wednesday night of Copd at an assisted living facility in Santa Clara, California, publicist Greg O’Connor-Read told The Hollywood Reporter.
Rice created and executive produced what was perhaps the first rock video game, “Journey Escape.” Released by Data Age in 1982 for the Atari 2600 console and narrated by Casey Kasem, it featured band members Steve Perry, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain, Ross Valory and Steve Smith as primitive digitized avatars.
Gamers were tasked in the instructions with guiding each musician “past hordes of Love-Crazed Groupies, Sneaky Photographers and Shifty-eyed Promoters to the safety of the Journey Escape Vehicle in time to make the next concert. Your mighty manager and loyal roadies are there to help, but the escape is up to you!
- 6/8/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Composer Christopher Lennertz was declared a BMI Icon at Broadcast Music Inc.’s 39th annual Film, TV and Visual Media Awards Wednesday night (May 10) in Beverly Hills.
Lennertz, a two-time Emmy nominee, veteran film composer and game-music creator, was honored for his 30-year career in media music-making.
BMI president and CEO Mike O’Neill presented the award, noting that Lennertz was “legendary for his diverse and distinct impact across the worlds of film, television and gaming” and telling the 51-year-old composer, “your captivating scores have taken us on a thrilling ride.”
Added BMI’s VP creative, film, TV and visual media Tracy McKnight: “His compelling body of work, from blockbuster films to hit TV shows and gaming, highlights Christopher’s passion for all styles of music and has made him one of the industry’s most sought-after composers. He is also dedicated to giving back through philanthropic work and advancing the next generation of composers.
Lennertz, a two-time Emmy nominee, veteran film composer and game-music creator, was honored for his 30-year career in media music-making.
BMI president and CEO Mike O’Neill presented the award, noting that Lennertz was “legendary for his diverse and distinct impact across the worlds of film, television and gaming” and telling the 51-year-old composer, “your captivating scores have taken us on a thrilling ride.”
Added BMI’s VP creative, film, TV and visual media Tracy McKnight: “His compelling body of work, from blockbuster films to hit TV shows and gaming, highlights Christopher’s passion for all styles of music and has made him one of the industry’s most sought-after composers. He is also dedicated to giving back through philanthropic work and advancing the next generation of composers.
- 5/11/2023
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
We're back with another Blu-ray round-up! As always, I gather up the latest releases for you in one handy spot. You're welcome. This latest round-up includes Criterion's release of Terry Gilliam's "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen," Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet playing a pair of fine young cannibals in "Bones and All," Ralph Fiennes serving up "The Menu," and a tooth-drilling double feature of "The Dentist" movies.
Bones And All
Luca Guadagnino's "Bones and All" is a beautiful road trip movie that just happens to be about cannibals. It's the 1980s, and Maren (Taylor Russell) has a big secret: she's a cannibal who can't resist eating human flesh. After an unfortunate incident involving a classmate, Maren hits the road. She eventually encounters Lee (Timothée Chalamet), another cannibal. It turns out there are cannibals all over the country, and they can sense each other. Lee and Maren fall...
Bones And All
Luca Guadagnino's "Bones and All" is a beautiful road trip movie that just happens to be about cannibals. It's the 1980s, and Maren (Taylor Russell) has a big secret: she's a cannibal who can't resist eating human flesh. After an unfortunate incident involving a classmate, Maren hits the road. She eventually encounters Lee (Timothée Chalamet), another cannibal. It turns out there are cannibals all over the country, and they can sense each other. Lee and Maren fall...
- 1/26/2023
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
Terry Gilliam’s grandest, most joyful fantasy is still a marvel, a fully adult adventure that will equally spark younger imaginations. Creative tricks and eye-popping Italo designs bring us a magical, satirical world of absurd wars, sultan’s hareems and a flight of fancy to the moon. John Neville’s ideal Baron is abetted by spunky Sarah Polley and a gallery of winning characterizations, from Eric Idle, Oliver Reed, Jonathan Pryce, Uma Thurman, Jack Purvis, Robin Williams, Valentina Cortese, Sting. So what if the Baron is history’s most notorious liar: we understand his complaint when performing a technically preposterous trip through outer space: “This is Precisely the sort of thing nobody Ever believes.”
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1166
1988 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 126 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date January 3, 2023 / 49.95
Starring: John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Charles McKeown,...
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen 4K
4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 1166
1988 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 126 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date January 3, 2023 / 49.95
Starring: John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Charles McKeown,...
- 1/10/2023
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
One word that comes to mind when you hear the title Die Hard is “definitive.” After all, it’s widely considered star Bruce Willis’ definitive role. Still, it’s also, arguably, the definitive action movie and even the definitive Christmas movie by some (in a debate that’s grown a bit tiresome). Indeed, Bruce Willis as John McClane, fighting terrorists in the Nakatomi skyscraper in Los Angeles, is a defining image of the eighties. Director John McTiernan, writers Steven E. De Souza and Jeb Stuart, and star Bruce Willis crafted a carnage-filled epic grounded by a very human hero – John McClane, who was a notable departure from the icons of the genre at the time, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. McClane was no superman. Instead, he was human, flawed and broken-hearted over his failed marriage. His only goal was to rescue his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) and get home for Christmas with his kids.
- 12/14/2022
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
With the popularity of nostalgia-driven shows like "Stranger Things," interest in '80s pop culture always seems to be taking new and exciting directions. One such example is the fascination with the classic movies of the decade. Sure, everyone knows about the heavy hitters like "Back to the Future," " E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial," "The Terminator," and "The Breakfast Club." Yet, there are many other films from the 1980s that need respect, and that's what this list is about.
Here, we'll look at the movies of the '80s that deserve some love and devotion. These movies should become references in TV shows, have cosplays made of them, or at least be included in your next '80s movie marathon. So make sure to grab your favorite scrunchie, a bowl of popcorn, and a can of Tab (or whatever soda you can safely drink), so we can totally explore some fantastic...
Here, we'll look at the movies of the '80s that deserve some love and devotion. These movies should become references in TV shows, have cosplays made of them, or at least be included in your next '80s movie marathon. So make sure to grab your favorite scrunchie, a bowl of popcorn, and a can of Tab (or whatever soda you can safely drink), so we can totally explore some fantastic...
- 11/8/2022
- by Dalin Rowell
- Slash Film
Benjamin Franklin once famously claimed “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” That might have been true in 1789 but, in 2022, it should probably be amended to include “remakes and reboots.” Remakes, reboots or whatever your preferred term may be, are increasingly commonplace in the world of moviemaking. It’s more common than most realize too. All that obscures that fact is that many have simply proven so bad that, without a VHS/DVD bargain bin to go to, they’ve been consigned to nothing more than distant memory. Who remembers the remakes of Jacob’s Ladder or Point Break, for example?
So when news first broke that Highlander was set to become the latest beloved cult classic to get rebooted for a modern audience, there was understandable apprehension. After all, there was an undeniably unique alchemy to the success of the original film. Something that’s never quite...
So when news first broke that Highlander was set to become the latest beloved cult classic to get rebooted for a modern audience, there was understandable apprehension. After all, there was an undeniably unique alchemy to the success of the original film. Something that’s never quite...
- 11/1/2022
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Monty Norman, the composer behind the iconic James Bond theme, has died at the age of 94.
A statement posted on his official website said, “It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness.”
Norman most famously composed the score for “Dr. No,” the 1962 James Bond film starring Sean Connery. His theme for James Bond, as arranged by fellow Englishman John Barry, would go on to become the theme for the entire franchise.
As Norman said on his site, “We recognized we needed a fresh, contemporary sound for the main theme, and in the up-and-coming young John Barry we found a wonderful arranger, so the whole thing worked very well.”
But controversy erupted decades later when Barry claimed authorship of the theme, resulting in Norman suing the Times of London for libel over a 1997 story (“Theme Tune Wrangle Has 007 Shaken and...
A statement posted on his official website said, “It is with sadness we share the news that Monty Norman died on 11th July 2022 after a short illness.”
Norman most famously composed the score for “Dr. No,” the 1962 James Bond film starring Sean Connery. His theme for James Bond, as arranged by fellow Englishman John Barry, would go on to become the theme for the entire franchise.
As Norman said on his site, “We recognized we needed a fresh, contemporary sound for the main theme, and in the up-and-coming young John Barry we found a wonderful arranger, so the whole thing worked very well.”
But controversy erupted decades later when Barry claimed authorship of the theme, resulting in Norman suing the Times of London for libel over a 1997 story (“Theme Tune Wrangle Has 007 Shaken and...
- 7/11/2022
- by Jon Burlingame and Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Today, Varèse Sarabande Records announced the LP release of The Iron Giant (Deluxe Edition) Original Motion Picture Score, with music by Michael Kamen. Varèse Sarabande has previously released Kamen’s The Iron Giant score as a 49-minute program single LP. The 2-lp Deluxe Edition, which will release commercially on August 5, is available now for pre-order at all retailers. Based on the 1968 book of the […]
The post Varèse Sarabande Records To Release 2-lp Set of The Iron Giant Score appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Varèse Sarabande Records To Release 2-lp Set of The Iron Giant Score appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 5/25/2022
- by Brent Simon
- ShockYa
Varèse Sarabande Records is excited to announce the LP release of The Iron Giant (Deluxe Edition) Original Motion Picture Score with music by Michael Kamen. Varèse Sarabande has previously released Kamen’s The Iron Giant score as a 49-minute program single LP. The 2-lp Deluxe Edition is now available for pre-order at all retailers, with a green vinyl version exclusive to VareseSarabande.com and Intl.VareseSarabande.com. The album will release August 5.
The 2-lp package taps directly into the ethos of the film, with a pull tab opening the Giant’s die-cut eyes on the front jacket. Depending on which inner sleeve has been slotted in the first position directly behind the cover, the reveal is different. Open the eyes in normal or defense mode!
Watch the unboxing video.
Preorder here: https://found.ee/theirongiant
Creating The Iron Giant’s beautiful, sympathetic score was Michael Kamen—one of his last...
The 2-lp package taps directly into the ethos of the film, with a pull tab opening the Giant’s die-cut eyes on the front jacket. Depending on which inner sleeve has been slotted in the first position directly behind the cover, the reveal is different. Open the eyes in normal or defense mode!
Watch the unboxing video.
Preorder here: https://found.ee/theirongiant
Creating The Iron Giant’s beautiful, sympathetic score was Michael Kamen—one of his last...
- 5/25/2022
- by Michelle Hannett
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
For some reason, out of the crop of new movies headed to Amazon Prime Video this month, many of them are associated with the 1980s. Not just movies from the Me Decade, although there are certainly a handful of classics from the Reagan era, but also movies that feel like they could have been made in that period – including a creature feature about rampaging dragons and a music-world spoof worthy of the Zaz team.
There’s also, of course, one of Steven Spielberg’s most powerful recent films and a 90s staple too. Either way, this month is best enjoyed with solid access to a time machine of your choosing (DeLorean not required but obviously encouraged).
Die Hard With a Vengeance 20th Century
Ho ho ho, “Die Hard” is just as good even if it’s not Christmastime. The John McTiernan-directed classic, which is a landmark action film and...
There’s also, of course, one of Steven Spielberg’s most powerful recent films and a 90s staple too. Either way, this month is best enjoyed with solid access to a time machine of your choosing (DeLorean not required but obviously encouraged).
Die Hard With a Vengeance 20th Century
Ho ho ho, “Die Hard” is just as good even if it’s not Christmastime. The John McTiernan-directed classic, which is a landmark action film and...
- 2/20/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Welcome back to Let’s Scare Bryan to Death! You may know this month’s guest, Phil Nobile Jr., as the Editor-in-Chief of an up-and-coming horror outlet called (checks notes) Fangoria magazine. You may have only heard of them if you’re one of our more hardcore horror fans, but I highly recommend you keep up with them because I think they’re going places. In all seriousness, Nobile has been tirelessly steering the ship during Fango’s relaunch in 2018 and their change in ownership in 2020. He’s getting a variety of voices into the horror-verse not only through the print magazine, but also through a robust virtual platform and even a regular email newsletter.
In between all of this, Nobile found a little time to chat with me about David Cronenberg’s 1983 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone. You may remember I covered eXistenZ with Joe Lipsett a while back,...
In between all of this, Nobile found a little time to chat with me about David Cronenberg’s 1983 adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone. You may remember I covered eXistenZ with Joe Lipsett a while back,...
- 10/27/2021
- by Bryan Christopher
- DailyDead
Bucking the trends for ’80s crime films, Neil Jordan’s tale of a low-rung hood attached to a ‘complicated’ call girl becomes a love story about meaningful relationships. Sort of the ‘anti- Travis Bickle,’ Bob Hoskins’ low-class mug discovers emotions and an ability to commit that could even be called Chivalric. Michael Caine chills as an all-too real villain, the boss that doesn’t think Hoskins worthy of a straight answer. Topping it off, cinematographer Roger Pratt makes this possibly the best-looking British crime film in color.
Mona Lisa
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 107
1986 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 104 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date September 14, 2021 / 39.95
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Caine, Clarke Peters, Sammi Davis, Kate Hardie, Zoe Nathenson.
Cinematography: Roger Pratt
Production Designer: Jamie Leonard
Costume Designer: Louise Frogley
Film Editor: Lesley Walker
Original Music: Michael Kamen
Written by Neil Jordan, David Leland
Produced by Patrick Cassavetti,...
Mona Lisa
Blu-ray
The Criterion Collection 107
1986 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 104 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date September 14, 2021 / 39.95
Starring: Bob Hoskins, Cathy Tyson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Caine, Clarke Peters, Sammi Davis, Kate Hardie, Zoe Nathenson.
Cinematography: Roger Pratt
Production Designer: Jamie Leonard
Costume Designer: Louise Frogley
Film Editor: Lesley Walker
Original Music: Michael Kamen
Written by Neil Jordan, David Leland
Produced by Patrick Cassavetti,...
- 9/18/2021
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
It’s that magic hour right after dawn when Robin Hood and Maid Marian approach the water’s edge. With the sun still low enough to cast both figures in mythic silhouette, the couple is surrounded by a blanket of fog, looking as if they’ve just stepped off a storybook cover. For most of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves’ running time, the narrative and its music has built to this moment: A request, a kiss, and a declaration.
When Robin Hood asks the woman he loves to do him a favor—secret a message to her cousin—she doesn’t hesitate to say yes, but not for her King and not for her country. She simply says, “I’ll do it for you.” That is when composer Michael Kamen’s “Maid Marian” suite swells to operatic heights for the first time in the movie, losing itself in a swoon of its own orchestral making.
When Robin Hood asks the woman he loves to do him a favor—secret a message to her cousin—she doesn’t hesitate to say yes, but not for her King and not for her country. She simply says, “I’ll do it for you.” That is when composer Michael Kamen’s “Maid Marian” suite swells to operatic heights for the first time in the movie, losing itself in a swoon of its own orchestral making.
- 6/24/2021
- by David Crow
- Den of Geek
Hot...hotter....hottest! Take a trip with us back to 1988 here on Reel Action as we dig into Carl Weather's first solo star turn as the inimitable Action Jackson. Produced by genre mainstay Joel Silver, this has all the eighties hallmarks. One-liners, crazy over-the-top action, a massive body count, plus a score by Michael Kamen and Herbie Hancock, an early role for Sharon Stone, the late Prince protege Vanity as the love interest, and Craig T. Nelson - Coach himself - as the…...
- 4/19/2021
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
A few years after Pink Floyd concluded its supersized world tour in support of A Momentary Lapse of Reason, they played a one-off gig in 1990 alongside Paul McCartney, Genesis, and Eric Clapton, among others — all winners of the prestigious Silver Clef Award, which honors outstanding services to the British music industry.
It took place at the Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, England, and Pink Floyd played some of their greatest hits, including “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb,” and “Money.” Now the band is releasing the performances — which previously appeared in...
It took place at the Knebworth House in Hertfordshire, England, and Pink Floyd played some of their greatest hits, including “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb,” and “Money.” Now the band is releasing the performances — which previously appeared in...
- 3/10/2021
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Last fall, 20 years after the first Symphony and Metallica concerts, the thrash-metal firebrands returned for the orchestral shows documented on their new album, S&M2. As with the 1999 outing, the group teamed up with the San Francisco Symphony, but they decided to make the sequel an even bigger event, performing two nights in a gargantuan arena and incorporating new songs that didn’t get the orchestral treatment the first time around. They even tried their hands at performing a classical piece with the Symphony.
“Picking the songs was just an exercise in balance,...
“Picking the songs was just an exercise in balance,...
- 8/25/2020
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Metallica have refigured their crushing hit, “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” with the San Francisco Symphony, for their upcoming S&M2 release, due out next Friday.
In the intro, Robert Trujillo plays the track’s apocalyptic descending bass line as the string section swells around it, while conductor Edwin Outwater jumps up and down with the rhythm. The string arrangement, which conductor Michael Kamen wrote for the original S&m concerts in 1999, also adds a little sparkle to the long, drawn-out guitar chords when James Hetfield sings.
The group recorded...
In the intro, Robert Trujillo plays the track’s apocalyptic descending bass line as the string section swells around it, while conductor Edwin Outwater jumps up and down with the rhythm. The string arrangement, which conductor Michael Kamen wrote for the original S&m concerts in 1999, also adds a little sparkle to the long, drawn-out guitar chords when James Hetfield sings.
The group recorded...
- 8/20/2020
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Versatile film, avant-garde classical, jazz and pop composer Ennio Morricone died in a Rome hospital after falling and breaking his leg, his lawyer Giorgio Assumma announced, according to Variety. He was 91.
Known as “the Maestro,” Morricone is best known as the composer of the scores and themes of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and his Academy Award winning soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. He also toured frequently, and expanded his sonic visions to reflect contemporary sounds. Besides his collaborations on the spaghetti Western films of Sergio Leone, Morricone composed for Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Don Siegel, Brian De Palma, and John Carpenter. He composed for such diverse artists as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, k.d. lang, and Pet Shop Boys. Morricone never became fluent in English. When he won his 2007 honorary Oscar, his speech was translated by Clint Eastwood.
Morricone...
Known as “the Maestro,” Morricone is best known as the composer of the scores and themes of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, and his Academy Award winning soundtrack for Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. He also toured frequently, and expanded his sonic visions to reflect contemporary sounds. Besides his collaborations on the spaghetti Western films of Sergio Leone, Morricone composed for Bernardo Bertolucci, Dario Argento, Don Siegel, Brian De Palma, and John Carpenter. He composed for such diverse artists as Andrea Bocelli, Sting, k.d. lang, and Pet Shop Boys. Morricone never became fluent in English. When he won his 2007 honorary Oscar, his speech was translated by Clint Eastwood.
Morricone...
- 7/6/2020
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
It’s the day after Metallica played a stunning concert with the San Francisco Symphony at the city’s enormous new Chase Center, and guitarist Kirk Hammett is letting his hair down in a tank top at his favorite restaurant in Sonoma, California. He’s here for a photo shoot for an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone, but at the moment he’s reviewing video of last night’s rendition of “Nothing Else Matters,” which features a newly souped-up orchestral intro. The sight of it — or maybe the sound of...
- 10/9/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
For one night only, Metallica fans will soon be able to witness the combined forces of the world’s most famous heavy metal quartet and the San Francisco Symphony on the big screen.
The concert film “S&M2,” scheduled to hit theaters on October 9, will take viewers inside San Francisco’s Chase Center (now home to the Golden State Warriors) for the high-octane marriage of strings and metal that occurred on September 6. Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of the original “S&m’” the concert made further history by serving as Chase Center’s inaugural event.
Though the change of venue meant the intimacy captured in Metallica’s first “S&m” — performed and recorded at the comparatively cozy Berkeley Community Theatre in 1999 — might be gone, the absence did not leave a void. Instead, as fans will soon experience, the atmosphere was palpably buzzing with excitement. Traveling from across the world, the crowd...
The concert film “S&M2,” scheduled to hit theaters on October 9, will take viewers inside San Francisco’s Chase Center (now home to the Golden State Warriors) for the high-octane marriage of strings and metal that occurred on September 6. Coinciding with the twentieth anniversary of the original “S&m’” the concert made further history by serving as Chase Center’s inaugural event.
Though the change of venue meant the intimacy captured in Metallica’s first “S&m” — performed and recorded at the comparatively cozy Berkeley Community Theatre in 1999 — might be gone, the absence did not leave a void. Instead, as fans will soon experience, the atmosphere was palpably buzzing with excitement. Traveling from across the world, the crowd...
- 10/2/2019
- by Zack Ruskin
- Variety Film + TV
It always helps to know someone when you’re breaking into showbiz, and a familial connection to Pink Floyd led British-born Edward Shearmur to work with the late two-time Oscar nominated composer Michael Kamen, known for such scores as Brazil and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Handling a variety of tasks for more than a decade for Kamen, one of the takeaways for Shearmur was his mentor’s ability to improvise music literally on the stand before a live orchestra, giving prompt directions to each section of brass, percussion, woodwind, etc and weaving them all together.
It’s a talent that Shearmur literally used while he was writing the score to the Showtime Ben Stiller-directed limited series Escape at Dannemora. After getting a note from Stiller while he was on a plane, Shearmur literally wrote a piece of music while he had an orchestra at his disposal in a Nashville,...
Handling a variety of tasks for more than a decade for Kamen, one of the takeaways for Shearmur was his mentor’s ability to improvise music literally on the stand before a live orchestra, giving prompt directions to each section of brass, percussion, woodwind, etc and weaving them all together.
It’s a talent that Shearmur literally used while he was writing the score to the Showtime Ben Stiller-directed limited series Escape at Dannemora. After getting a note from Stiller while he was on a plane, Shearmur literally wrote a piece of music while he had an orchestra at his disposal in a Nashville,...
- 8/29/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
No stranger to grand gestures, Metallica will make their latest Big Event even bigger when they bring their collaboration with the San Francisco Symphony — dubbed S&m2 — to the big screen later this fall. The band will film its two upcoming S&m concerts, which take place at San Francisco’s Chase Center on September 6th and 8th, and broadcast it in 3,000 theaters around the world on October 9th.
Tickets for the screenings go on sale tentatively August 7th. For more information visit the group’s specially dedicated page to the broadcast.
Tickets for the screenings go on sale tentatively August 7th. For more information visit the group’s specially dedicated page to the broadcast.
- 7/31/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Could David Arnold return as composer to the James Bond series?
It was the obvious question to pose while he was talking about Amazon’s new “Good Omens” miniseries, for which he has composed the elaborate score.
“It’s a no-news situation,” Arnold told Variety about 007. “I’ve heard nothing. But my pencil is always sharpened for him if James comes around again. But if he doesn’t, I’ll be as excited to watch the new film as anyone else. I still love him, and I love all of the team over there.”
Arnold composed the scores for five consecutive Bond films: three with Pierce Brosnan and two starring Daniel Craig.
With singer Chris Cornell, he co-wrote “You Know My Name,” the theme song for “Casino Royale,” and earned a Grammy nomination for it; he also received a BAFTA nomination for that score.
Arnold has scored more 007 films than any composer since John Barry,...
It was the obvious question to pose while he was talking about Amazon’s new “Good Omens” miniseries, for which he has composed the elaborate score.
“It’s a no-news situation,” Arnold told Variety about 007. “I’ve heard nothing. But my pencil is always sharpened for him if James comes around again. But if he doesn’t, I’ll be as excited to watch the new film as anyone else. I still love him, and I love all of the team over there.”
Arnold composed the scores for five consecutive Bond films: three with Pierce Brosnan and two starring Daniel Craig.
With singer Chris Cornell, he co-wrote “You Know My Name,” the theme song for “Casino Royale,” and earned a Grammy nomination for it; he also received a BAFTA nomination for that score.
Arnold has scored more 007 films than any composer since John Barry,...
- 6/4/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
It has taken Terry Gilliam 30 years to bring “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote” to the big screen. His most notable attempt to make the film starred Johnny Depp and involved a doomed six-day shoot, captured in the documentary “Lost in La Mancha,” that ended in the set being washed away in a flash flood and Gilliam’s then-Quixote, Jean Rochefort, suffering a medical emergency and unable to ride a horse.
Though the failed 2001 shoot was the most dramatic, Gilliam has been painfully close to finishing the film countless times, as the project has constantly evolved with new players ever since he was promised $20 million in 1989 to tell his adapted version of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel. Just last year, the film was completed with the help of Amazon Studios — which pulled out days before the film premiered in Cannes, leaving Gilliam once again searching for a home. Now, the filmmaker...
Though the failed 2001 shoot was the most dramatic, Gilliam has been painfully close to finishing the film countless times, as the project has constantly evolved with new players ever since he was promised $20 million in 1989 to tell his adapted version of Miguel de Cervantes’ novel. Just last year, the film was completed with the help of Amazon Studios — which pulled out days before the film premiered in Cannes, leaving Gilliam once again searching for a home. Now, the filmmaker...
- 4/9/2019
- by Chris O'Falt
- Indiewire
American composer Marco Beltrami will be the guest of honor at the World Soundtrack Awards, part of the Ghent Film Festival, on Oct. 18 in Belgium.
Beltrami, a two-time Oscar nominee (for “3:10 to Yuma” and “The Hurt Locker”), recently scored the horror hit “A Quiet Place” and the Oscar winner for Best Documentary “Free Solo.” Music from both will be performed in a concert by the Brussels Philharmonic.
Festival music director Dirk Brossé, who will conduct, called Beltrami “an all-around composer whose music moves within the most diverse musical styles and genres. Dedicating considerable attention to melody and obsessed by rhythms, Marco offers a rich palette of both acoustic and electronic colors.”
The Ghent Film Festival runs from October 8 to 18 this year. It is widely considered one of the world’s leading events devoted primarily to film music; past concerts have featured such leading composers as Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone,...
Beltrami, a two-time Oscar nominee (for “3:10 to Yuma” and “The Hurt Locker”), recently scored the horror hit “A Quiet Place” and the Oscar winner for Best Documentary “Free Solo.” Music from both will be performed in a concert by the Brussels Philharmonic.
Festival music director Dirk Brossé, who will conduct, called Beltrami “an all-around composer whose music moves within the most diverse musical styles and genres. Dedicating considerable attention to melody and obsessed by rhythms, Marco offers a rich palette of both acoustic and electronic colors.”
The Ghent Film Festival runs from October 8 to 18 this year. It is widely considered one of the world’s leading events devoted primarily to film music; past concerts have featured such leading composers as Hans Zimmer, Ennio Morricone,...
- 3/27/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony announced a concert marking the 20th anniversary of their 1999 live LP, S&M. The show, dubbed “S&M²,” is scheduled for Friday, September 6th, and will be the debut concert for the city’s Chase Center venue.
A Chase pre-sale runs from Tuesday, March 19th at noon through Thursday, March 21st at 11:59 a.m. Pt. General tickets go on sale Friday, March 22nd at 10 a.m. Pt.
“We’re honored to take part in the Grand Opening of the Chase Center in San Francisco as...
A Chase pre-sale runs from Tuesday, March 19th at noon through Thursday, March 21st at 11:59 a.m. Pt. General tickets go on sale Friday, March 22nd at 10 a.m. Pt.
“We’re honored to take part in the Grand Opening of the Chase Center in San Francisco as...
- 3/19/2019
- by Ryan Reed
- Rollingstone.com
Nick Redman, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker, award-winning soundtrack producer and co-founder of the Twilight Time video label, died Thursday afternoon, Jan. 17, at a Santa Monica Hospital, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 63.
He was nominated for an Academy Award as producer of the 1996 documentary “The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage,” a look back at Sam Peckinpah’s controversial film. He also produced and directed the 1998 “A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and The Searchers,” about the making of the Western classic, a prizewinner at multiple film festivals.
In 2007 he produced and directed the feature documentary “Becoming John Ford,” which debuted at the Venice International Film Festival and detailed the long and complex relationship between the famous director and 20th Century-Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck.
He made numerous other short films including profiles of actress Stella Stevens and film composers Basil Poledouris and Jerry Fielding.
He was nominated for an Academy Award as producer of the 1996 documentary “The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage,” a look back at Sam Peckinpah’s controversial film. He also produced and directed the 1998 “A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and The Searchers,” about the making of the Western classic, a prizewinner at multiple film festivals.
In 2007 he produced and directed the feature documentary “Becoming John Ford,” which debuted at the Venice International Film Festival and detailed the long and complex relationship between the famous director and 20th Century-Fox studio chief Darryl F. Zanuck.
He made numerous other short films including profiles of actress Stella Stevens and film composers Basil Poledouris and Jerry Fielding.
- 1/18/2019
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
With every reboot of a classic TV series, the producers face a key question: Reprise the musical theme of the old show or go for an entirely new sound appropriate to a new cast and concept?
Zack Estrin, executive producer of Netflix’s “Lost in Space,” available for streaming on April 13, chose the former, with a twist. “We’re maintaining the core spirit of the show — this great family survival adventure — and along with the rights to the show came this incredible trove of original John Williams compositions,” he says. “We wanted you to feel like you were in a great Steven Spielberg experience of a movie, and what better way to feel that than to have a hint of John Williams?”
The legendary composer, who was a frequent collaborator with “Lost in Space” creator Irwin Allen, wrote two themes for the sci-fi series, which aired on CBS from 1965-...
Zack Estrin, executive producer of Netflix’s “Lost in Space,” available for streaming on April 13, chose the former, with a twist. “We’re maintaining the core spirit of the show — this great family survival adventure — and along with the rights to the show came this incredible trove of original John Williams compositions,” he says. “We wanted you to feel like you were in a great Steven Spielberg experience of a movie, and what better way to feel that than to have a hint of John Williams?”
The legendary composer, who was a frequent collaborator with “Lost in Space” creator Irwin Allen, wrote two themes for the sci-fi series, which aired on CBS from 1965-...
- 4/13/2018
- by Jon Burlingame
- Variety Film + TV
Paul Childs Feb 12, 2018
After Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves - and that song! - hit big, the song work of Bryan Adams was in high demand at the movies...
Last month, this site ran an article about the power of feel good pop music to lighten our mood. As soon as I read it I rushed home and put on some Bryan Adams. This wasn’t just a sudden whim. I’ve been a huge fan of his ever since 'that bloke who sings about the best days of his life' released 'that song from that film'.
See related Den Of Thieves review Pablo Schreiber interview: Den Of Thieves O'Shea Jackson Jr. interview: Den Of Thieves
Everything I Do (I Do It For You) was massive hit in 1991. It reigned over the pop charts for what felt like forever and became a fashionable choice for recessional music and first dances at weddings,...
After Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves - and that song! - hit big, the song work of Bryan Adams was in high demand at the movies...
Last month, this site ran an article about the power of feel good pop music to lighten our mood. As soon as I read it I rushed home and put on some Bryan Adams. This wasn’t just a sudden whim. I’ve been a huge fan of his ever since 'that bloke who sings about the best days of his life' released 'that song from that film'.
See related Den Of Thieves review Pablo Schreiber interview: Den Of Thieves O'Shea Jackson Jr. interview: Den Of Thieves
Everything I Do (I Do It For You) was massive hit in 1991. It reigned over the pop charts for what felt like forever and became a fashionable choice for recessional music and first dances at weddings,...
- 2/7/2018
- Den of Geek
Michael Kamen has been responsible for countless movie and TV scores throughout his career and has made a definite mark on the industry through his many different projects. He’s one of the few people that have done so much with so many and yet remains in many circles an unknown. This is typically what happens to those that work behind the scenes no matter that their work is performed at such a high level. Too many people are concerned about the flash and what’s in front of their faces to learn more about the movies they love and what went
The Top Five Michael Kamen Movie Scores of His Career...
The Top Five Michael Kamen Movie Scores of His Career...
- 1/16/2018
- by Wake
- TVovermind.com
Rebecca Lea Oct 3, 2016
Christopher Walken stars in the adaptation of Stephen King's The Dead Zone. We revisit the movie...
The Film: Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) is a school teacher, happily in love with his colleague, Sarah (Brooke Adams) and living in Castle Rock, Maine. However, this is Castle Rock and people never stay happy for long. During a trip to a funfair, Johnny has his first premonition and later that night, he is in a terrible car accident. He wakes up from the resultant coma five years later to discover that Sarah has moved on and his visions remain, helping to save a nurse’s child from a house fire. With the help of Dr Sam Weizak (Herbert Lom), he comes to terms with his accident and abilities. He uses his powers for good in various ways, but it is a premonition of a possible President, Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen...
Christopher Walken stars in the adaptation of Stephen King's The Dead Zone. We revisit the movie...
The Film: Johnny Smith (Christopher Walken) is a school teacher, happily in love with his colleague, Sarah (Brooke Adams) and living in Castle Rock, Maine. However, this is Castle Rock and people never stay happy for long. During a trip to a funfair, Johnny has his first premonition and later that night, he is in a terrible car accident. He wakes up from the resultant coma five years later to discover that Sarah has moved on and his visions remain, helping to save a nurse’s child from a house fire. With the help of Dr Sam Weizak (Herbert Lom), he comes to terms with his accident and abilities. He uses his powers for good in various ways, but it is a premonition of a possible President, Greg Stillson (Martin Sheen...
- 10/2/2016
- Den of Geek
We change things up by focusing on a boutique label, Twilight Time, that has found success through a unique business model. Mark and Aaron happen to be big fans, and feel that we have directly contributed towards some of their profits. We talk about the company, their business model, why they have succeeded, and we address some common critiques. We also review a few discs each, and finally count down our favorite Twilight Time titles.
About Nick Redman:
London-born Nick Redman, one of Hollywood’s leading producers of movie music, is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. An Academy Award nominee as producer of the 1996 Warner Brothers documentary, The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage, he went on to write, produce, and direct A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and The Searchers (1998), which became a prize-winner at multiple film festivals.
As a consultant to the Fox Music...
About Nick Redman:
London-born Nick Redman, one of Hollywood’s leading producers of movie music, is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. An Academy Award nominee as producer of the 1996 Warner Brothers documentary, The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage, he went on to write, produce, and direct A Turning of the Earth: John Ford, John Wayne and The Searchers (1998), which became a prize-winner at multiple film festivals.
As a consultant to the Fox Music...
- 9/13/2016
- by Aaron West
- CriterionCast
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Some brilliant scores accompany movies that don't always deserve them. Here are 25 examples...
Can a film soundtrack rescue a movie that is otherwise a lost cause? One thing’s for sure: throughout the history of cinema, music has often been the redeeming feature of many an underwhelming movie. Here are 25 amazing film scores composed for films that, frankly, didn’t deserve them.
25) Meet Joe Black (Thomas Newman, 1998)
This somnambulistic three hour romantic drama should really feature an extra screen credit for star Brad Pitt’s fetishised blonde locks. Rising way above the torpid melodrama of the plot is one of Thomas Newman’s most hauntingly melodic and attractive scores, one that leaves his characteristic quirkiness at the door to paint a portrait of death that is both melancholy and hopeful. The spectacular 10-minute finale That Next Place remains one of Newman’s towering musical achievements.
24) Timeline (Brian Tyler,...
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Some brilliant scores accompany movies that don't always deserve them. Here are 25 examples...
Can a film soundtrack rescue a movie that is otherwise a lost cause? One thing’s for sure: throughout the history of cinema, music has often been the redeeming feature of many an underwhelming movie. Here are 25 amazing film scores composed for films that, frankly, didn’t deserve them.
25) Meet Joe Black (Thomas Newman, 1998)
This somnambulistic three hour romantic drama should really feature an extra screen credit for star Brad Pitt’s fetishised blonde locks. Rising way above the torpid melodrama of the plot is one of Thomas Newman’s most hauntingly melodic and attractive scores, one that leaves his characteristic quirkiness at the door to paint a portrait of death that is both melancholy and hopeful. The spectacular 10-minute finale That Next Place remains one of Newman’s towering musical achievements.
24) Timeline (Brian Tyler,...
- 3/29/2016
- Den of Geek
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Diverse, awe-inspiring and memorable treasures that have sadly fallen off the radar
The noughties were a tough decade for film music fans. Not only was there the unprecedented loss of four great masters in the form of Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein, Michael Kamen and Basil Poledouris; the nature of the industry itself began to go through some seismic changes, not all of them for the better.
With the art of film scoring becoming ever more processed, driven increasingly by ghost writers, electronic augmentation and temp tracks, prospects looked bleak. However, this shouldn’t shield the fact that there were some blindingly brilliant scores composed during this period. Here’s but a small sampling of them.
25. The Departed (Howard Shore, 2006)
When it came to the sound of his Oscar-winning crime thriller, director Martin Scorsese hit on the inspired notion of having composer Howard Shore base it around a tango,...
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Diverse, awe-inspiring and memorable treasures that have sadly fallen off the radar
The noughties were a tough decade for film music fans. Not only was there the unprecedented loss of four great masters in the form of Jerry Goldsmith, Elmer Bernstein, Michael Kamen and Basil Poledouris; the nature of the industry itself began to go through some seismic changes, not all of them for the better.
With the art of film scoring becoming ever more processed, driven increasingly by ghost writers, electronic augmentation and temp tracks, prospects looked bleak. However, this shouldn’t shield the fact that there were some blindingly brilliant scores composed during this period. Here’s but a small sampling of them.
25. The Departed (Howard Shore, 2006)
When it came to the sound of his Oscar-winning crime thriller, director Martin Scorsese hit on the inspired notion of having composer Howard Shore base it around a tango,...
- 3/3/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
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The sensational, overlooked film scores from the years 1990 to 1999 that really are well worth digging out...
The movies went through tumultuous and exciting changes in the nineties. Quentin Tarantino exploded onto the scene with Reservoir Dogs, Generation X gave rise to slacker marvels like Clerks, and blockbusters like The Matrix put the awe back into special effects.
However, the 90s was also a sensational decade for film music, gifting us classics including the likes of Jurassic Park, Titanic, Total Recall, Braveheart and countless others. But the sheer quality of these soundtrack treasures shouldn’t overshadow those undervalued hidden gems that demonstrate the extraordinary range and versatility of our finest film composers, ones that may have passed you by. So here’s our selection of those incredible works: ranging from the earworming to the unsettling, the melodic to the chaotic, these are the scores that simply demand your attention.
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The sensational, overlooked film scores from the years 1990 to 1999 that really are well worth digging out...
The movies went through tumultuous and exciting changes in the nineties. Quentin Tarantino exploded onto the scene with Reservoir Dogs, Generation X gave rise to slacker marvels like Clerks, and blockbusters like The Matrix put the awe back into special effects.
However, the 90s was also a sensational decade for film music, gifting us classics including the likes of Jurassic Park, Titanic, Total Recall, Braveheart and countless others. But the sheer quality of these soundtrack treasures shouldn’t overshadow those undervalued hidden gems that demonstrate the extraordinary range and versatility of our finest film composers, ones that may have passed you by. So here’s our selection of those incredible works: ranging from the earworming to the unsettling, the melodic to the chaotic, these are the scores that simply demand your attention.
- 1/20/2016
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Two of the Cryptkeeper's big screen stories—Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood—will receive stellar home media treatments this fall from Scream Factory, with both films set to be released as Collector's Edition Blu-rays on October 20th. In early July, the cover art for the anticipated releases was revealed, and now their full lists of special features have been announced.
Scream Factory's guaranteeing the ultimate Halloween treat for fans of Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood, as the special features list for the former includes a new audio commentary with Demon Knight director Ernest Dickerson, while the latter has a new audio commentary with Bordello of Blood co-writer and producer A.L. Katz.
Below, we have the official press release with the full special features lists, and in case you missed it, we also have a look at the final cover art for the Collector's Edition releases.
Press Release: Just in time for Halloween festivities,...
Scream Factory's guaranteeing the ultimate Halloween treat for fans of Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood, as the special features list for the former includes a new audio commentary with Demon Knight director Ernest Dickerson, while the latter has a new audio commentary with Bordello of Blood co-writer and producer A.L. Katz.
Below, we have the official press release with the full special features lists, and in case you missed it, we also have a look at the final cover art for the Collector's Edition releases.
Press Release: Just in time for Halloween festivities,...
- 9/2/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
I never had a crisis of faith, because I never had any real faith in the first place. My parents were not wildly religious, but it was important to their lives in a general sense. My father's mother was a church organist, and my mother's mother was active in her own church in any number of ways. Both of my grandmothers lived in Memphis, so when we'd visit them, we'd have to make sure to schedule a trip long enough to show up at each of their churches at least once, just so they got to show off their grandchildren to their friends. In the life of my parents, church always seemed to serve primarily a social function. We moved frequently because of my dad's work as an engineer, and every place we moved, they became active in their local church. Each time, they made friends and they found a...
- 8/25/2015
- by Drew McWeeny
- Hitfix
Paramount Pictures’ and Skydance Productions’ Terminator Genisys led the worldwide weekend box office race earning a combined total of $102.7 million in 46 countries plus North America.
Directed by Alan Taylor, Genisys returns to the Oscar winning Terminator franchise to take familiar characters in a new direction. When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger), dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission: to reset the future.
Terminator Genisys is written by Laeta Kalogridis & Patrick Lussier and produced by David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. The franchise has two more films scheduled to be released in 2016 and 2017.
Grammy...
Directed by Alan Taylor, Genisys returns to the Oscar winning Terminator franchise to take familiar characters in a new direction. When John Connor (Jason Clarke), leader of the human resistance, sends Sgt. Kyle Reese (Jai Courtney) back to 1984 to protect Sarah Connor (Emilia Clarke) and safeguard the future, an unexpected turn of events creates a fractured timeline. Now, Sgt. Reese finds himself in a new and unfamiliar version of the past, where he is faced with unlikely allies, including the Guardian (Arnold Schwarzenegger), dangerous new enemies, and an unexpected new mission: to reset the future.
Terminator Genisys is written by Laeta Kalogridis & Patrick Lussier and produced by David Ellison and Dana Goldberg. The franchise has two more films scheduled to be released in 2016 and 2017.
Grammy...
- 7/6/2015
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
It has taken nearly 30 years, but it seems that Tobe Hooper’s 1985 sci-fi horror epic, Lifeforce, is finally earning the respect it deserves.
Lifeforce is the movie that pretty much killed Tobe Hooper's mainstream directing career. The first of his three-movie deal with the great Cannon Films, the film recouped less than half of its $25 million budget (which, for Cannon, might as well be Avatar money) upon its theatrical release and made Hooper something of a laughingstock in the process. Maybe because his previous movie, Poltergeist, had been so commercial (which has more to do with Spielberg’s influence than Hooper's), a lot of the audience for Lifeforce assumed Hooper didn't know what he was doing — they concluded that the movie just got away from him. Nope. Tobe Hooper knew exactly the movie he was making. Lifeforce is a crazy movie. It was designed as a crazy movie. It...
Lifeforce is the movie that pretty much killed Tobe Hooper's mainstream directing career. The first of his three-movie deal with the great Cannon Films, the film recouped less than half of its $25 million budget (which, for Cannon, might as well be Avatar money) upon its theatrical release and made Hooper something of a laughingstock in the process. Maybe because his previous movie, Poltergeist, had been so commercial (which has more to do with Spielberg’s influence than Hooper's), a lot of the audience for Lifeforce assumed Hooper didn't know what he was doing — they concluded that the movie just got away from him. Nope. Tobe Hooper knew exactly the movie he was making. Lifeforce is a crazy movie. It was designed as a crazy movie. It...
- 6/19/2015
- by Patrick Bromley
- DailyDead
From Muppet Treasure Island to Speed, we take a look at the 90s soundtracks that deserve another listen...
Ah, the 1990s. The decade that brought us The Lion King. Titanic. Quentin Tarantino. That wordless bathroom scene in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks. Duel of the Fates from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. In the Mood for Love.
It was a good 10 years for film music, no doubt.
But scratch the surface of 1991 through 1999 and there are tons of good scores ready to spring a surprise on your ears. Some were attached to sorely underrated movies, others were overshadowed by wildly successful ones, and some have simply been forgotten in the passage of time.
Here, in no particular order, are the top 25 underappreciated film soundtracks from the 1990s.
1. Chaplin - John Barry
Okay, let's start with a big one. Richard Attenborough. Robert Downey Jr. John Barry.
Ah, the 1990s. The decade that brought us The Lion King. Titanic. Quentin Tarantino. That wordless bathroom scene in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet. Angelo Badalamenti's Twin Peaks. Duel of the Fates from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. In the Mood for Love.
It was a good 10 years for film music, no doubt.
But scratch the surface of 1991 through 1999 and there are tons of good scores ready to spring a surprise on your ears. Some were attached to sorely underrated movies, others were overshadowed by wildly successful ones, and some have simply been forgotten in the passage of time.
Here, in no particular order, are the top 25 underappreciated film soundtracks from the 1990s.
1. Chaplin - John Barry
Okay, let's start with a big one. Richard Attenborough. Robert Downey Jr. John Barry.
- 4/28/2015
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Many happy returns to Bruce Willis, who celebrates his 60th birthday today (March 19)!
Ever since finding fame in the '80s thanks to sitcom Moonlighting and explosive action movie Die Hard, Bruce has been a regular on our screens, appearing in films great, good, not-so-good and Cop Out.
With John McClane himself celebrating the big 6-0, Digital Spy staff reminisce about their favourite Bruce Willis movies, while you can vote for your personal favourite in the poll below...
Die Hard - Morgan Jeffery (TV Editor)
There's a million reasons to love 1988's Die Hard - the colourful supporting characters like Al (Reginald VelJohnson), Ellis (Hart Bochner) and Argyle (De'voreaux White), action cinema's greatest ever villain in Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), Michael Kamen's brilliantly '80s score...
But the big reason is Bruce. Sure, New York cop John McClane was a tough guy, but what Willis brought to the part...
Ever since finding fame in the '80s thanks to sitcom Moonlighting and explosive action movie Die Hard, Bruce has been a regular on our screens, appearing in films great, good, not-so-good and Cop Out.
With John McClane himself celebrating the big 6-0, Digital Spy staff reminisce about their favourite Bruce Willis movies, while you can vote for your personal favourite in the poll below...
Die Hard - Morgan Jeffery (TV Editor)
There's a million reasons to love 1988's Die Hard - the colourful supporting characters like Al (Reginald VelJohnson), Ellis (Hart Bochner) and Argyle (De'voreaux White), action cinema's greatest ever villain in Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), Michael Kamen's brilliantly '80s score...
But the big reason is Bruce. Sure, New York cop John McClane was a tough guy, but what Willis brought to the part...
- 3/19/2015
- Digital Spy
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